Written Answers Thursday 12 May 2005

Scottish Executive

Central Heating

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households have received warm deal grants for energy efficiency measures each year since the initiative’s inception and what the total expenditure on the initiative has been.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The total expenditure on the warm deal programme from April 1999 to March 2004 was £52.228 million, inclusive of the managing agent fees for warm deal in the private sector, and expenditure on the 1999 Home Energy Efficiency Scheme and New Energy Efficiency Deal for Scotland (NEEDS) schemes that were a precursor to the warm deal programme. The table below shows the number of properties benefiting from warm deal grants from April 1999 to March 2004. As the figures for 2004-05 are not yet complete they have not been included.

  Properties Benefiting from Warm Deal Grant April 1999 to March 2004

  

 Programme Year
 No. of Properties Treated


 1999–20001
 47,085


 2000–01
 49,215


 2001–02
 40,877


 2002–03
 30,076


 2003–042
 29,243


 Total
 196,496



  Notes:

  1. Includes 8,636 properties treated on the NEEDS scheme.

  2. Includes properties in the public sector treated with central heating upgrades and "innovative measures", such as fuel switching, under the warm deal programme.

Central Heating

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of households entitled to a grant under the warm deal initiative have been awarded a grant.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The warm deal programme is a demand-led scheme with eligibility determined against a set of published criteria. Every applicant to the warm deal programme, who is found to be eligible for support, has been offered a grant.

Central Heating

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households have benefited from the central heating programme since its inception and what the total expenditure on the scheme has been.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The total expenditure on the central heating programme from April 2001 to March 2004 is £96.163 million, inclusive of the managing agent fees in the private sector. The table below shows the number of properties benefiting from central heating systems, across all sectors, from April 2001 to March 2004. As the figures for 2004-05 are not yet complete they have not been included.

  Properties Benefiting from Central Heating Systems April 2001 to March 2004

  

 Programme Year
 No. of Properties Treated


 2001–02
 8,508


 2002–03
 11,220


 2003–04*
 17,591


 Total
 37,319



  *Note: This figure includes 803 local authority properties treated with partial central heating upgrades.

Central Heating

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of households eligible to receive support from the central heating programme have been granted such support.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The central heating programme is a demand-led scheme with eligibility determined against a set of published criteria. Every applicant to the central heating programme, who is found to be eligible for support, has been offered a grant.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will produce and publish a national reform programme under the European Commission’s revised Lisbon strategy independently of the UK Government.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive will not produce or publish a separate national reform programme relating to the revised Lisbon strategy.

  The UK position on economic reform is consistent with that of the Executive. The refocus of the Lisbon Strategy towards growth and employment aligns policy priorities in the EU with those that currently exist in the UK and in Scotland. The Executive’s priorities are outlined in the Framework for Economic Development in Scotland and A Smart, Successful Scotland.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to contribute to the UK Government’s national reform programme under the European Commission’s revised Lisbon strategy and, if so, what form this contribution will take and whether it will be made public.

Mr Jim Wallace: In accordance with existing practice, the Executive will contribute to any UK consultation exercise relating to the revised Lisbon strategy and national reform programme.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations it will consult in the preparation of a national reform programme, or in contributing to the UK national reform programme, under the European Commission’s revised Lisbon strategy.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive consults regularly with key stakeholders through various forums, ensuring that all views are represented. Many of the reforms necessary to meet the Lisbon objectives have already been through a consultation process in Scotland and the UK as part of their implementation. Any new commitments will follow a similar process in accordance with normal government practice.

Education

Christine May (Central Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the first awards in the Schools of Ambition programme

Peter Peacock: We will announce the names of the schools which are being accepted into the first tranche probably in June.

Equal Opportunities

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to nominating a Scottish city as a candidate to be the location of the headquarters of the European Gender Institute.

Mr Tom McCabe: No consideration has been given to nominating a Scottish city to date. Discussions regarding the financing of the European Institute for Gender Equality are still on-going and this is affecting all future plans to set up the institute. When these are resolved and location considered, nominations for the institute’s headquarters may be sought from member states. This process is reserved and ultimately a matter for the UK Government. Scottish ministers will liaise with UK counterparts about any potential Scottish locations.

Ferry Services

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14496 by Nicol Stephen on 16 March 2005, whether all Caledonian MacBrayne services are loss-making.

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14496 by Nicol Stephen on 16 March 2005, what information it receives from Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) when assessing whether the routes within the undertaking between it and CalMac are loss-making.

Nicol Stephen: Analysis of Caledonian MacBrayne’s services carried out by the Scottish Executive as part of work undertaken to support its discussions with the European Commission in relation to bringing the Clyde and Hebrides services into line with EU State aid rules established that all of the operated routes were loss making.

Ferry Services

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Caledonian MacBrayne produces an annual statement which breaks down the deficit funding requirement on a route-by-route basis.

Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-14498 on 16 March 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Ferry Services

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14498 by Nicol Stephen on 16 March 2005, why foot passenger numbers on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route have only been gathered from December 2004 when the undertaking between it and Caledonian MacBrayne to provide lifeline ferry services on this route was restricted to a foot passenger service in 1981.

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken any investigations or monitored funding levels in respect of the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route to ensure that the deficit funding is proportionate to the provision of the foot passenger undertaking between it and Caledonian MacBrayne.

Nicol Stephen: The gathering of information on foot passengers using Caledonian MacBrayne’s Gourock to Dunoon service was begun in December 2004 to assist in providing full information to potential operators, should we continue efforts to identify an operator willing to run the service on a commercial basis following the completion of current discussions with the European Commission. Collection of this type of information was not previously considered necessary for the purposes of monitoring the annual deficit grant funding to Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. The company’s accounts are audited on an annual basis and the company’s auditors have indicated that they are satisfied that it has in place measures to ensure that the passenger only deficit funding is applied appropriately.

Ferry Services

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether out of undertaking peak sailings on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route between 1986 and 2003 were provided on a commercial basis.

Nicol Stephen: Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd carried out an analysis of the costs of providing peak sailings on the Gourock-Dunoon route in the mid-1980s, indicating that these additional out of undertaking sailings could be provided on a commercial basis. In 1986, the Scottish Transport Group, which the company then operated under, approved the introduction of the additional sailings. The peak sailings were absorbed into the undertaking in 2003 in order to remove any ambiguity about whether these sailings should be included in the final tender specification for this route.

Ferry Services

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the MV Pioneer was disposed of in accordance with the guidelines on the disposal of surplus assets, as set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual, and, if so, whether it was sold for the best possible price.

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Caledonian MacBrayne received other expressions of interest in the MV Pioneer prior to its disposal and whether these parties were given the opportunity of submitting a formal bid.

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in respect of the disposal of the MV pioneer, there were any special factors which would have justified any derogation from the normal course of action on the disposal of surplus assets, as set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual.

Nicol Stephen: The disposal of the MV Pioneer by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd was carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Scottish Public Finance Manual, which states that "holdings of assets should be kept under constant review with a view to disposing of surplus assets as quickly as possible" and "the best possible price should be obtained for surplus assets. Assets should therefore normally be sold on the open market."

  It is important to note that these instructions do not require that in all cases assets must be sold on the open market.

  In this case, I understand that Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd obtained an independent valuation of the vessel last year and placed it in the hands of ship brokers for disposal. Following four expressions of interest and a firm offer to purchase the vessel, the CalMac Board took the collective decision to accept that offer, which was 22.2% in excess of the independent valuation that had been obtained. The board also took into account savings in lay up costs from an early disposal.

Ferry Services

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the MV Pioneer was sold on the open market and, if not, how the sale met best value criteria.

Nicol Stephen: The vessel was not sold on the open market, but was disposed of privately at a price some 22.2% higher than a current independent valuation and that minimised lay up and other costs. The company acted reasonably in its disposal of this surplus asset and secured an acceptable price in accordance with Scottish Public Finance Manual best practice.

Health

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether medical rehabilitation is available to patients who have travelled abroad for a surgical operation that is not available in Scotland.

Rhona Brankin: On their return to Scotland, such a patient would normally be referred by their GP to the appropriate specialist in NHSScotland. The specialist would advise on rehabilitation or follow-up according to the patient’s current clinical need in the context of local and national protocols.

Housing

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to address the shortage of affordable housing in Edinburgh.

Johann Lamont: As a result of the substantial overall increase in the funding we are making available for affordable housing investment across Scotland we plan to invest £38 million in the current year in Edinburgh city. This represents a doubling of the budget planned for 2004-05.

  We are also working with Edinburgh City Council on its Community Ownership proposals which will see tenants put at the heart of the decision making process, allow over £300 million of debt to be written off and release substantial new resources to improve the council’s existing stock and increase the supply of affordable homes.

  Working in partnership with Edinburgh City Council we are committed to making substantial and lasting inroads into dealing with affordable housing issues in the city.

Housing

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to improve housing conditions in Glasgow Springburn.

Johann Lamont: The Executive is committed to enabling the complete transformation of the quality of housing in Glasgow. The Glasgow Stock Transfer will see £1.5 billion of new investment in the former council stock over a ten year period. In addition, we are investing £140 million in the city this year to improve the quality and availability of housing in all sectors.

  We have also set in train ambitious plans to ensure that all affordable housing stock satisfies the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015.

  I fully expect the housing stock and residents in Springburn to benefit from these comprehensive renewal plans.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15878 by Colin Boyd QC on 21 April 2005, whether it will provide a breakdown of the European Arrest Warrants received by (a) issuing country and (b) offence in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005.

Colin Boyd QC: In 2004, Scotland received three European Arrest Warrants and to date in 2005 Scotland has received a further two European Arrest Warrants.

  Two of those received in 2004 were from Portugal, but were subsequently withdrawn.

  One of the warrants received in 2005 was from Poland in respect of an allegation of attempted murder. It was executed earlier this year.

  The other warrants remain outstanding. It is inappropriate for operational reasons to give details of either the issuing country or the offences for which those outstanding warrants have been issued.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15878 by Colin Boyd QC on 21 April 2005, whether it will provide a breakdown of the European Arrest Warrants issued by (a) country to which they were addressed and (b) offence in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005.

Colin Boyd QC: In 2004 Scotland issued 14 European Arrest Warrants (EAW) so far in 2005 two European Arrest Warrants have been issued.

  Of those issued in 2004, eight have been executed and two were withdrawn by Crown Office before they were executed, as the fugitives returned voluntarily to Scotland. Four remain outstanding.

  Seven European Arrest Warrants were issued to Spain. Two of these were in respect of the fugitives who returned voluntarily to Scotland. The remaining five were in relation to offences of assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement, attempt to defeat the ends of justice, a contravention of Section 27(7) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, embezzlement, a contravention of Sex Offenders Act 1997 Section 2(6E)(A), theft, a contravention of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 Section 17(5). All of these warrants were executed in Spain, and the fugitives returned to Scotland.

  One warrant was issued to Portugal in relation to an allegation of a contravention of the Road Traffic Act 1998 Section 1, attempting to defeat the ends of justice and a contravention of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) 1995 Section 27(7). The EAW was executed and the fugitive was returned to Scotland.

  Two European Arrest Warrants were executed in The Netherlands for a contravention of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1995 Section 67(2) and Section 67(9) together with a charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice. Both EAW were executed (in respect of the same individual) and the fugitive was returned to Scotland.

  It would be inappropriate for operational reasons to give details of the European Arrest Warrants issued in 2005 which both remain outstanding.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the European Arrest Warrants received have been for acts that are not offences in Scots law.

Colin Boyd QC: Scotland has so far received five European Arrest warrants. I can confirm that they all relate to acts that are offences known to Scots Law.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, for each offence listed in Article 2(2) of Council Framework Decision 2002/584/SHA on the European Arrest Warrant and the surrender procedures between member states, for which offences in Scots law it considers a European Arrest Warrant could be issued without verification of double criminality by the receiving member state.

Colin Boyd QC: Scots Criminal Law is largely based on the common law. As a result there is a wide variety of offences and aggravations available to meet a very large number of circumstances. It is not possible to compile an exhaustive list of the offences in Scots Law and it would not be practical or helpful to do so. Where consideration is given to the issuing of a European Arrest Warrant, in all cases the list of offences in Article 2.2 of the Council Framework Decision would be examined to see whether the offence involved would be covered by one of the offences on that list.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the media conferences held in a prison at which HM Chief Inspector of Prisons launched his report on an investigation into that prison in each of the last six years.

Cathy Jamieson: Media Conferences held to launch an inspection report within the prison inspected since April 1999 are as follows:

  

 HM Prison Kilmarnock
 26 April 2005


 HM Prison Inverness
 14 December 2004


 HM Prison Aberdeen
 17 November 2004


 HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont
 5 August 2004


 HM Prison Shotts
 22 April 2004


 HM Prison Glenochil
 25 March 2004


 HM Prison Barlinnie
 3 October 2003


 HM Prison Peterhead
 3 June 2003


 HM Prison Perth
 2 May 2002

Prison Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15704 by Cathy Jamieson on 26 April 2005, in which part of the report it states that all menus meet dietary needs; what action has been taken in respect of the recommendations contained in the report for changes to menus; what the annual budget for food was at HM Prison Cornton Vale, and what the total number of meals consumed by prisoners at Cornton Vale has been in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The statement that all menus meet dietary needs is neither in the report nor claimed by SPS. The report commissioned by Cornton Vale was investigative, aimed at obtaining advice to ensure dietary needs are met. This report is still under consideration. However, the following recommendations have been agreed meantime: that healthy and vegetarian options should be highlighted in the menu and additional fruit should be included.

  No record is kept of the number of meals consumed but prisoners are served three meals per day. Average numbers for Cornton Vale for each of the last five years were 2000-01 – 190; 2001-02 – 237; 2002-03 – 245; 2003-04 – 238, and 2004-05 - 245.

  Annual budgets have been provided in response to S2W-16200, answered on 12 May 2005.

Prison Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total annual budget for food was in each prison in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  

 Establishment
 Financial Year


 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05


 Aberdeen
 91,520
 91,520
 114,400
 114,400
 131,600


 Barlinnie
 557,700
 557,700
 617,760
 629,200
 636,600


 Castle Huntly
 85,781
 85,781
 80,080
 80,080
 80,080


 Cornton Vale
 110,000
 110,000
 143,000
 143,000
 131,560


 Dumfries
 83,512
 94,380
 125,800
 101,816
 114,400


 Edinburgh
 383,240
 383,240
 391,463
 391,820
 420,400


 Glenochil
 354,640
 354,640
 398,916
 296,608
 283,712


 Greenock
 143,000
 160,160
 171,600
 171,600
 172,386


 Inverness
 71,500
 71,500
 77,220
 80,080
 91,520


 Low Moss
 171,915
 189,075
 180,568
 176,749
 179,000


 Noranside 
 74,360
 74,360
 68,700
 71,500
 67,000


 Perth
 340,340
 340,340
 337,480
 377,520
 400,400


 Peterhead
 171,600
 171,600
 165,880
 188,760
 175,032


 Polmont
 257,400
 228,800
 240,240
 351,945
 371,800


 Shotts
 302,008
 302,008
 302,008
 302,016
 295,152

Public Sector Staff

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the recruitment policy of it and its agencies is in relation to nationality.

Mr Tom McCabe: The civil service nationality rules are a reserved matter. There are restrictions on the nationalities of persons who are eligible to apply for posts in the civil service, and the Civil Service Management Code states what these restrictions are. The Scottish Executive has no authority to deviate from these nationality rules, including reasons for restrictions. The Civil Service Management Code can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website www.cabinet-office.gov.uk

Rail Network

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on discussions with GNER regarding the development of Musselburgh Parkway station following the recent decision on the franchise for the East Coast main line.

Nicol Stephen: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) was responsible for specifying and re-letting the East Coast franchise. I understand that the development of Musselburgh Parkway did not form part of the SRA’s specification for the new franchise.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who bears the risk of delays in relation to the awarding of contracts for the construction of the M74 extension; whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre any contract documents providing for such risk, and whether there will be any provision in respect of who bears the financial responsibility for delays caused by (a) protest activity and (b) court proceedings by a third party, such as a judicial review of the decision to proceed, interdict action or other proceedings.

Nicol Stephen: Our standard Design and Build contract conditions, which are proposed for the construction of the M74 completion scheme, place most of the risk for delays due to unforeseen circumstances on the contractor, since he is best placed to manage the consequence of reprogramming the works.

  The contract documents for the M74 completion scheme are not yet finalised and we will take a view on all relevant risks throughout their development. A copy of the draft M74 contract conditions will be placed in the Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre once these have been issued to tenderers.

  We will proceed to tender once the statutory procedures are secure and will consider with tenderers the appropriate sharing of risk in relation to all potential issues.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15892 by Nicol Stephen on 26 April 2005, (a) which consultants received payment from the sum of £327,735.29, how much was paid to each consultant and what consultancy services were provided, (b) how much of the sum of £152,673.11 was for legal fees and which firms received this payment and (c) which advocate or advocates received payment and how much was paid to each individual.

Nicol Stephen: The information requested is as follows:

  (a) The following consultants received payment from the sum of £327,735.29.

  

 Consultant
 Fee Paid
 Services Provided


 Glasgow City Council 
£9,261.06
 PLI Programme Officer


 Glasgow City Council 
£126,740.80
 Design services


 Glasgow City Council
£16,108.60
 Appointed Agent


 Environmental Resources Management
£87,835.01
 Environmental 


 Babtie Group
£21,128.54
 Contaminated land


 Bullen Consultants
£5,681.65
 Geotechnical


 SIAS
£60,979.63
 Traffic


 Total
£327,735.29
 



  Notes:

  1. The Executive contributes 87.35% to the total cost of the scheme.

  2. The remainder of the £152,673.11 is made up of £389.93 for the hire of meeting rooms for consultation with Counsel, £626.11 for copying of papers and productions and £1,310.25 for legal fees incorrectly allocated to PLI costs. The correct cost for Legal Fees and Administration for the PLI is £151,362.86.

  (b) £150,346.83 of the £152,673.11 was for legal fees to advocates.

  (c) £54,305.50 was paid for the services of David Sheldon, Advocate and £96,041.33 was paid for the services of Raymond Doherty QC.

Scottish Executive Procurement

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that recommended procurement practice has been followed in the tender process for the management and maintenance of the trunk road network in north-west and south-west Scotland where only two firms, rather than three, have been selected to bid and whether it will publish the advice that it has received on this matter.

Nicol Stephen: Yes. The tender process is being carried out in accordance with EU procurement rules for public works contracts and the procedural guidance set out in the Scottish Executive’s Construction Works Procurement Guidance: Client Pack. This information is available publicly through the Scottish Executive website.

Scottish Executive Staff

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants worked for each of its departments in each year since 1999, broken down by division.

Mr Tom McCabe: The number of permanent civil servants working in the Scottish Executive core departments at 1 April each year since 1999 is shown in the following table. It is not possible to provide the information by division.

  Number of Full-Time Equivalent Permanent Staff in Post in Scottish Executive Core Departments at 1 April Each Year

  

 
 April 1999
 April 2000
 April 2001
 April 2002
 April 2003
 April 2004
 April 2005


 SE Core Total 
 3,706.5
 3,929.3
 3,985.6
 4,144.6
 4,332.6
 4,411.0
 4,412.9


 Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries 
 940.6
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..


 Environment and Rural Affairs 
 ..
 963.7
 1,017.2
 1,074.1
 1,086.1
 1,086.2
 1,072.2


 Central Services 
 1,005.4
 1,081.8
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..


 Corporate Services 
 ..
 ..
 705.5
 640.8
 624.9
 
 


 Executive Secretariat 
 ..
 ..
 283.6
 341.1
 ..
 ..
 ..


 Finance 
 ..
 ..
 128.3
 143.1
 ..
 ..
 ..


 Finance and Central Services 
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..
 556.1
 569.0
 453.2


 Legal and Parliamentary Services 
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..
 173.5
 179.2
 192.8


 Ministerial Group 
 .. 
 .. 
 .. 
 85.2
 89.2
 .. 
 .. 


 Education and Industry 
 582.6
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..


 Education 
 ..
 355.4
 384.8
 295.6
 268.5
 275.4
 271.0


 Enterprise and Lifelong Learning 
 ..
 296.9
 309.4
 331.3
 340.8
 ..
 ..


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning 
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..
 517.2
 556.1


 Health 
 251.5
 308.0
 337.3
 374.8
 382.9
 396.0
 386.4


 Home 
 369.8
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..


 Justice 
 ..
 326.2
 234.1
 215.1
 227.2
 253.4
 247.9


 Development 
 482.2
 517.3
 506.5
 564.2
 486.0
 312.4
 287.0


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..
 745.0
 867.4


 Centrally Managed Staff
 74.4
 80.0
 78.9
 79.3
 97.4
 77.2
 78.9

Scottish Executive Staff

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it spent on relocation costs for new employees in each year since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is not held centrally for new employees who have joined the Scottish Executive since 1999.

Social Work

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging the continuing professional development of social workers.

Euan Robson: Through the Scottish Social Services Council we have introduced a number of actions that support the continuing professional development of social workers. This includes registration for all social workers from April 2003 and the requirement to undertake at least 15 days post registration training and learning over three years. The council is consulting on proposed additional post registration training and learning requirements for newly qualified social workers to ensure that they are properly supported to consolidate their knowledge and skills in practice.

  We fully endorse the Continuing Professional Development Strategy agreed by the council on 14 September 2004 and which sets out new arrangements for the continuing professional development for all social service workers, including social workers.

Sport

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the other devolved assemblies with regard to gathering support for Glasgow’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

Patricia Ferguson: Decisions have still to be made on whether a bid should be mounted for Glasgow to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014. It is therefore too early to solicit the support of the other devolved administrations. However, the other devolved administrations and the UK Government are aware of the feasibility work being undertaken to consider whether a bid should be made through the regular meetings that take place at ministerial and official level on sport and major event issues.

Tourism

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to promote cultural contacts and tourism from France based on the historic links between Scotland and France.

Patricia Ferguson: France is very important to Scotland, not least as a major tourism market. As part of the centenary of the Entente Cordiale in 2004, the Executive delivered a very successful programme of cultural events linking Scotland and France. In order to build further on the many cultural and other achievements of last year’s programme, we are talking to the French Government, and we expect to make an announcement in the near future.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are applied in measuring congestion on the Forth Road Bridge and what information it has on mean and median travel times for crossing the bridge at peak times in each year since construction.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive does not monitor congestion or journey times on the Forth Bridge. This is a matter for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA). The information is not held centrally.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) mean and (b) median travel times by car were from Edinburgh city centre to Glasgow city centre in (i) 1975, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1995, (iv) 1999, (v) 2000, (vi) 2001, (vii) 2002, (viii) 2004 and (ix) 2005.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive does not hold the information requested.

Transport

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in meeting the transport needs of south east Edinburgh.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the South East Scotland Transport Partnership (SESTRAN), City of Edinburgh Council, operators and others on a range of transport issues, including the transport needs of south east Edinburgh.

  The Executive will continue to work in partnership with these organisations in identifying opportunities for transport improvements.